trigger warning
<spoiler> trauma, grief, gore, mental illness, miscarriage, being drugged </spoiler>

When her guardians decide to leave town, Jane seeks a husband who is willing to treat the marriage as a business arrangement, beneficial to both but without intimacy.
She gets far more than she bargained for.

The setting is kind-of victorian england, only the country is called Breltaine. The capital is called Camhurst, all sounds vaguely british, but women are allowed to study, hold a doctorate and positions equal to their qualifications.
Even Jane herself <i>could</i> study should she so choose. Very un-victorian but welcome.

So, from the get go we get the vibes that Auguste Lawrence has something to hide, and the fun is to figure out what is is and how the problem can be solved. Typical gothic horror and heavily based on vibes and atmosphere.
In this, it was exactly what I wanted.

There is not much to say without spoiling anything, so I won't.
If you're into gothic horror or stories that rely mostly on atmosphere, you'll probably like this.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for this advance copy.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I've been trying to foray into fantasy for a while, and this was a magical foray into the genre. The Death of Jane Lawrence follows Jane, getting into an unconventional marriage with the town doctor, and learning some science as well as more magical counterparts. We learned everything alongside Jane, which I loved, but as I am new to this genre - I was a bit confused at times! Fully attributing that to my own lack of knowledge though.

The Death of Jane Lawrence is one of those books that starts off with a bang, but gets lost along the way!
I devoured the first part of the book avidly, and heck, it's really well written, until I get more or less to the and all my interest has dissipated.

Jane is clear in her mind, she wants a husband who will allow her to remain independent, and Augustine is welcome to agree to her proposal, but on one condition. She must never set foot in Lindridge Hall, the dilapidated manor house outside of town.
Now, do you think it could ever have happened that Jane would have kept her distance from it?
Of course not, and, in fact, on their wedding night, an accident changes things.
The man she married is full of insecurities; he is convinced that Jane is an apparition.
Jane realizes that Lindridge Hall is behind his behavior, so much so that the next morning, Augustine is himself again.

The novel presents itself as a horror/gothic capable of shocking the reader.
Well, that was not the case at all.
It takes a lot of inspiration from Crimson Peak and Rebecca, as previously foreshadowed. Perhaps a little too much.
Still, it's a shame, because the basic story has potential, which has faded. Not very linear, not consistent with the main characters and how they were introduced at the beginning of the book.
Argh, I'm sorry, because I was really getting into it.

Gothic, Chilling, and utterly thrilling, The Death of Jane Lawrence is an evocative piece of thrilling horror - working brilliantly not only as piece of scary, edge of your seat writing, but as a fantastically transportive piece of historical fiction

3.5 stars. A gothic haunting that we'll deserves its promises of the likes of crimson peak. It positively screams goth frilly Victorian garb. It's also a cosmic horror in a men of letters style with a band of merry victoriana educated fellows who practice magic and rituals on the side. This was written so well by someone who astounded me with The Luminous Dead and I would have loved this as much if it hadn't gone off on a tangent to the cosmic. So yes, 3.5 stars for the genre but a 5 for the writing. Can't wait for more Caitlin Starling to see where she takes me next

The Death of Jane Lawrence was that classic kind of Gothic that buries itself beneath your skin and refuses to let you forget it.

This is a book that truly thrives on its atmosphere. I adore that chilling Gothic atmosphere of candles, darkness, a touch of romance and the stench of death. However, this is also a story that challenges every expectation you have. That rotting, unsettling sense of something not being quite right destabilises you and throws everything you think you know into question. I also loved how this is a familiar but ever so slightly different world to the one we are used to, with references to unfamiliar religions and the war that never was. Even that slight alteration is something that throws you off-kilter and into this twisted world.

Right from the start, you know little will be as you expect and indeed, the story delves into some truly bizarre and frightening territory. This is a gory book, knee deep in blood and gore and everything that goes bump in the night.. Starling ensures that you are constantly on guard, with the nightmarish visions and apparitions that surround you. In particular, the manor on the hill becomes its own character and you can envision that fading glamour and the numerous secrets it holds within its walls. The way Starling eventually makes this intersect with the central themes of the book and the interiority of the characters is so, so clever.

I read this through the darkness of night and that definitely embellished certain scenes. Ambiguity is a difficult tool to wield but Starling does with great effect, particularly towards the last segment of the book. Horror is often infinitely more frightening when you do not see everything and I think that is executed to amazing effect here.

The Death of Jane Lawrence is a macabre gem, twisting your mind with its deceptions and darkness.

This is a book that is many things. Is has a Victorian house, graphic surgery, witchcraft, spoooky half abandoned mansion, dead ex wife. I felt myself rooting for the main character too at times and it definitely wasn’t badly written.
It sort of felt a bit like the author started to write a gothic horror and just ran so far with it, it was a little too hard to follow. The last part of the book was a bit difficult to work out what was happening at times which did detract from the plot.
Great read for the approaching winter nights and Halloween spookiness and I know a couple of people who will really enjoy this!

Read through netgalley for an honest review.

One of the best horror novels I've ever read. My jaw dropped halfway into the book because it was just so unique, and I have never read any book like this before. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys well-thought-out plot twists and rocky build-ups.

I absolutely love Caitlin Starling’s work and the way she can grip you into a story is unbelievable. The death of Jane Lawrence is no different. Stunning imagery and a plot so delicately threaded that you can absolutely follow the journey too.
The more this book went on, the weirder it got, and unfortunately I did start to lose interest as the complexity got too much for me. After taking a break and coming back to it, I definitely got right back into it and enjoyed this book immensely.

The Death of Jane Lawrence is a gothic horror story following Jane, a young lady on a mission to find a husband - albeit one who meets her strict criteria. When she meets Augustine, a local doctor, he seems like the perfect man. However after their marriage and on return to Augustine's looming manor in the countryside a haunted, paranoid man is revealed and Jane must discover what is going on before it's too late.

I really enjoyed this book, Jane as a character was great - she is very stubborn and determined but also quite quiet and subtle (which is refreshing from a lot of protagonists you see at the moment!). Augustine was a really interesting character as well, and the way his past and house affecting him was well explored. I did think they were the only two characters who had a lot of development - there weren't really a lot of side characters but they were both such interesting characters that if you connect with them (like I did) then I think you won't have a problem with this!

The atmosphere was also excellent. I love gothic novels and this book hit the creepy, unhinged but still proper vibes a lot of historical gothic novels have. Also any sort of haunted house I love, the ghosts in this one reminded me a lot of the ghosts from haunting of hill house. Additionally I really adored the medical aspects of this book! I wasn't expecting it at all but I loved it. Medical horror is so interesting and I really liked the idea of the patients who haunt you because you feel you haven't done well enough.

The ending of the book was slightly lost on me - it felt very meta and I think I wasn't quite following along properly but I had enjoyed the book so much up to that point and I liked the epilogue I didn't really mind. If you like books that are a bit of a mind-fuck I think you will probably love this.

Overall I would recommend this, especially to fans of historical and gothic fiction. It's a quieter horror with some great characters and really interesting themes!

The Death of Jane Lawrence is a combination of gothic horror, alternate reality, magic and historical drama/mystery. Set in a Victorian world that isn't quite Victorian, Jane Lawrence offers herself up for marriage to a local doctor, this will be a marriage convenience, Jane isn't looking for romance or love however she soon sees that her well laid plans have gone totally astray. Most of the plot takes place in Lindridge Hall, this is the family home of Jane's husband Augustine, part of their marriage agreement is that Jane will never stay there however Augustine will, why one wonders? Lindridge Hall could have been in a Shirley Jackson novel, it has that unsettling feel where things aren't as they seem to be. Caitlin Starling surprises her reader, the plot takes you to places you are not expecting, and it is a complex plot you need your brain in gear. A different sci fi/ fantasy/horror novel which doesn't have a cloaked assassin in sight.

Jane Shoringfield has reached a stage in her life where it seems finding a husband is her only option. Setting her sights on the capable and brilliant Dr Augustine Lawrence, she makes a deal - they will live separate lives while also reaping the benefits (and security) of marriage. As part of their 'arrangement' Jane agrees tonever stay the night in Augustine's family manor, Lindridge Hall. However, circumstances soon after their wedding mean she has to do just that. And this is when her nightmare begins as Jane soon learns that not only are the halls of this crumbling manor haunted, so is her husband.

A great resurrection of a classic Gothic novel, this story brings readers on a chilling journey through the many abandoned rooms of Lindridge Hall. Spirits, rituals, gore and magic come together to create a truly chilling plot with a satisfying conclusion.

I would recommend this for fans of historical, gothic horror who are prepared to be scared!

A dark and gothic read that I finished in one sitting. It was a compelling read that had me gripped right from the start. I loved it.

Practical, unassuming Jane Shoringfield has done the calculations, and decided that the most secure path forward is this: a husband, in a marriage of convenience, who will allow her to remain independent and occupied with meaningful work. Her first choice, the dashing but reclusive doctor Augustine Lawrence, agrees to her proposal with only one condition: that she must never visit Lindridge Hall, his crumbling family manor outside of town.
Yet on their wedding night, an accident strands her at his door in a pitch-black rainstorm, and she finds him changed. Gone is the bold, courageous surgeon, and in his place is a terrified, paranoid man one who cannot tell reality from nightmare, and fears Jane is an apparition, come to haunt him. By morning, Augustine is himself again, but Jane knows something is deeply wrong at Lindridge Hall, and with the man she has so hastily bound her safety to.
Totally gripping read it in one sitting really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Titan Books
I just reviewed The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling. #TheDeathofJaneLawrence #NetGalley

2.5 stars

There's a lot going on in this book, and not all of it good.
For me, it lacked atmosphere, and it's confusing at times because there's so much to take in.
I enjoyed the writing style, but not all the content.
I'd definitely read Starling again.

I didn't enjoy this much. It started really well, excluding the instalove, which is something I detest. It was well written and I enjoyed the premise, but it just got a bit too convoluted and hard to understand, for me at least

I knew a lot about this book going into it, but somehow it still managed to surprise me at almost every turn. One thing that wasn’t a surprise was Caitlin Starling’s flawless prose. As always, I was blown away by the gorgeous writing itself. In all of her books, I don’t think Starling has ever wasted a word – everything builds together to create a beautiful and deep and usually horrifying world and THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE is no different. If you like your horror steeped in gothic atmosphere and dangerous, gory magic, look no further.

The majority of this book is set in Lindridge Hall, the decaying family manor of Augustine Lawrence, Jane’s husband of convenience, and in true gothic fashion the manor feels like a character in its own right. It’s the perfect setting for the terrible, terrible things that Jane and Augustine go through, and i love the vivid descriptions that make it feel steeped in history and fear. It’s isolated, crumbling and atmospheric, and made me tense and anxious every time night fell and Jane was still in the Hall. I’ve read a lot of gothic horror and I am deeply impressed by the way that Starling built on the traditional characteristics of the genre to make the reader feel like they know exactly where it’s going, and then subverted all of those expectations. There’s a lot going on under the surface of this novel, and I would love to see more of this world.

Jane herself is, predictably, my absolute favourite part of this novel. A dedicated woman in a hellish situation of magic and madness? I love her. From the first chapter she stole my heart with her unusual and business-like approach to their marriage, and I adored seeing the way that she relates to the world. Jane is an accountant, focused on numbers and facts. She likes the tangible and has a strong sense of self and an almost stubborn grasp on the world around her. Which, obviously, makes her the perfect protagonist to stumble into her new husband’s messy past, full of secrets and magic. The way that she approaches magic is fascinating to me. I can’t go into it in too much detail without spoiling it, and I love the way it unravels far too much to risk that, but it’s a really interesting perspective and was a lot of fun to read as someone who habitually reads a lot of books about magic and craft.

The ending of this novel was honestly a mindfuck, in the best way possible. I stayed up far past my bedtime because I couldn’t put it down, and the first thing I did the next morning was reach for my kindle to finish it. It’s complicated and deliciously twisty and I know that the second I have a physical copy of this in my hands, I’m going to read it all over again because I have a feeling it’s going to be just as good the second time around.